Pipe coating apparatus



w. R. POSTLEWAITE 2,040,876

PIPE COATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet l inventor \Q & N Q A 1% w R a:

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y 1936- w. R. POS l'LEWAlTE PIPE COATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1952 6 Sheets$heet 2 Inventor May 19, 1936. w. R. POSTLEWAITE 2,040,876

PIPE COATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1932 6 Shee'ts-Sheet 3 Inventor Q Attorneys Filed July 30, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor Attorneys May 19, 1936. w. R. POSTLEWAITE PIPE COATING APPARATUS Filed July 30, 1932 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 May 19, 1936. w. R. FOSTLEWAITE 2,040,376

PIPE COATING APPARATUS 7 Filed July 30, 1932 I 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 A0 9 1 62 6 F 1 if 47 1 Inventor J fi 11 Immeys Patented May 19, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PIPE COATING APPARATUS William R. Postlewaite, San Francisco, Calif., a-

signor to Standard Oil Company of California, San Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application July so, 1932, Serial No. 626,870 9 Claims. (Cl. 25-38) My invention relates to pipe. coating apparatus, device for applying a coating of mastic to a pipe and has particular reference to a device for apin which the device accurately follows the cirplying a mastic wrapping or coating to a pipe. cumierence of the pipe, irrespective of irregu- In the construction of underground conduits emlarities or bends which might occur in a length ploying metallic pipe, it is desirable to coat the of pipe.

pipe with an insulating, acid and alkaline-rev Another object of the invention is to provide a sistant covering to prevent deterioration of the device for applying a coating of mastic to a pipe pipe, due to contact with the earth, and for this in which a relatively heavy coating of material purpose it is the practice tov apply a relatively is applied to the pipe and the coating is then [0 thin wrapping, or coating, of suitable material drawn through a die to compress it into a solidly about the exterior of the conduit. Such coatings compacted mass. 7 usually comprise a mastic formed of bituminous Another object of the invention is to provide material, which is applied to the pipewhile in a a device for applying a coating of mastic upon a plastic condition, and is permitted to harden pipe in which a supply of mastic is brought under upon the pipe. Various methods of applying pressure into contact with the pipe and is com- 15 such mastic coatings have been suggested, such pressedin place to insure adherenceof the mastic as the wrapping of a helix of mastic ted to the to the pipe and to insure a solidly compacted pipe in the form of a substantially continuous mass thereon. ribbon, or the applying of a relatively thick layer Other objects and advantages will be apparent of mastic to a paper wrapping which is then from a study of the following specifications, read 20 wrapped in a helix about the pipe. in connection with the accompanying drawings,

All of the previous methods of applying coatwherein lugs to pipe, however, are subject to disadvan- Figure 1 is a side elevationalview of my mastic tages, particularly in'view of the fact that the appLving device arranged upon a pipe which is helix 0! plastic material is wrapped around the fed therethrough by a combined rotary and lon- 25 pipe with the sides of adjacent coils of the helix gitudinal motion; abutting each other so that if the wrapping is not Figure 2 is a top plan view of the mastic applycareiully done spaces are-left between adjacent ing device shown in Figure 1; coils of the helix. Moreover; the mass of mastic Figure 3 isan end elevational view of the maswhich is applied to the pipe is not compressed tic applying device shown in1Figure l; 30 about the pipe, and, therefore, hardens into a Figure 4 is a detail, perspective view of a nozzle relatively spongy mass, which does not adhere employed in connection with my invention; strongly to the pipe and which is mechanically Figure 5 is a detail view, partly in section, of a weak. nozzle mounting employed with my invention;

It is, therefore, an object of my invention 'to Figure 6 is a detail view of one of the rollers 35 provide a device for applying a dense mastic coatemployed with the mounting shown in Figure 5; ing to pipes in which a continuous coating of Figure 'lis a detail elevational view of the roller mastic is formed upon the pipe without spaces shownin Figure 6; therein. Figure 8is a side elevational view of a nozzle 0' Another object of my invention is to provide constructed in accordance with my invention 40 a device for applying mastic to pipe in which a and associated with a tamper for compacting relatively thick layer of mastic is applied to the material upon the pipe;

pipe and then compressed or compacted upon Figure 9 is an end view of the-nozzle and comthe pipe to insure complete coverage of the pipe pacting device shown in Figure 8; and and to insure a solid, dense mass thereon. Fig. 10 is a detail view of a portion of a modified 45 Another object of the invention is to provide a machine showing a screw or helix for feeding the device for applying mastic to pipes in which in mastic under pressureto the pipe. a single operation the mastic is applied and com- Referring to the drawings, 1 have illustrated in pacted'upon the pipe. l Figures 1, 2 and 3, a pipe or tube .l which is to a Another object of the invention is to provide a be coated with the mastic. The pipe I is ar- 50 device for applying mastic to a pipe in which the ranged to be rotated by any suitable driving mastic is applied as a continuous mass, as dismechanism, and while rotating, is given a longi-. tinguished from a wrapping of the ribbon helix tudinalieeding motion so that any given point of mastic upon the pipe. upon the surface of the pipe will be moved in such Another object of the invention is to provide a manneras to describe a helix. Such rotating 55 and feeding movement may be provided by any suitable mechanism, such as that shown in the copending application of J. F. Putman, Serial No. 469,289, filed July 21, 1930, and assigned to the Standard Oil Company of California. Moreover, accuracy of the feed is not essential in my process, as distinguished from wrapping processes where an accurate feed must be maintained.

For purposes of illustration herein, I have illustrated the pipe I as being supported upon a pair of feeding rollers 2 and 3, mounted upon a suitable stationary framework 4 over which the pipe I is fed.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the rollers 2 and 3 rotate about the axes which are disposed at an angle to the axis of the pipe i so that as the pipe I is rotated, the peripheral contact between the roller 2 and the pipe, and the roller 3 and the pipe, will cause the pipe I to be moved longitudinally a selected distance for each revolution of the pipe I.

For purposes of illustration, the roller 2 is shown as rotatable about a bearing 5 which is journaled in a bifurcated arm 8 rotatably mounted in a bearing 1, the axis of which is disposed radially relative to the pipe. The bifurcated arm 6 is provided with an outstanding bracket 8 which rests upon a plate 9 stationarily supported upon the supporting frame '4. The plate 8 is provided with an arcuate slot l8 through which a bolt ll may pass, permitting the bracket 8 to be fixed in any, desired position relative to the plate so that by rotating the arm 6 about its bearing 1 the axis of the roller may be disposed at any desired angle to the axis of the pipe.

For simplicity of illustration, the means ior rotating the pipe is omitted, thoughit will be understood that any suitable chuck-mechanism may be employed for producing a rotary motion of the pipe.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the support 4 and the feed rollers 2 and 3 are arranged to drive the pipe past a hopper l2 from which may be fed a suitable supply of the masticmaterial H to be applied to the pipe. The mastic is preferably maintainedat relatively high temperature in order to maintain the same in a plastic condition, permitting it to be readily worked, and permitting it to attach itself to the pipe by adhesion.

Itwill also be understood by those skilled in the art that the pipe may equally well be rotated between head and tail stocks as in an ordinary lathe, while the feed is obtained by traversing the nozzle and hopper on a carriag The mastic I3 is fed from the hopper'lZ mm a mastic-applying nozzle l4 which is illustrated as comprising an annular cylindrical body portion l5 having a longitudinal bore I 8 extending therethrough, through which the pipe I may pass. The bore I8 is illustrated as tapering from a large diameter at the entrance end I! thereof to a smaller diameter at the exit end I8 thereof, so that when the nozzle is in place upon the pipe a relatively large space is provided between the periphery of the pipe and the internal periphery of the bore It, as the pipe enters the nozzle, while a much smaller space is provided between the pipe and the interior of the nozzle as the pipe leaves the nozzle, to form a mastic smoothing and compacting die. i

A portion of the side of the.cylindrical section is open, the wall thereof extending tangentially to the bore ii of the nozzle to provide a mastic feed chute l8 extending laterally from the bore to receive and direct mastic from the hopper to the bore 16. v

The mastic chute. l9 extends only partially along the longitudinal length of the nozzle l4, and a side wall 28 extends vertically from the chute 5 to guide the flow of mastic into the bore I6. An attaching flange 2| is formed upon the entrance side of the nozzle I4 for the purpose of attaching the nozzle toa supporting mounting. The supporting mounting is illustrated as comprising a, 10

frame 22 formed of a pair of end rings 23 and 24 spaced from each other by suitable struts 25 in a longitudinal direction relative to the pipe. Each of the rings 23 and 24 is formed with the inner diameter considerably in excess of the diameter 5 of the pipe which is to be treated, so as to provide a space therebetween in which contact rollers 26 may be mounted.

The contact rollers are illustrated particularly in Figures 5, 6, and 7, as being mounted upon suit- 2 able shafts 21 journaled in brackets 28, each of which is rigidly secured to a mountingpin 29 extending radially through the ring 24. A suitable bearing 38 may be formed in the ring 24 for the reception of the pin 28 so that the pin may 25 readily rotate therein. The brackets 28 may be fixed to the ring by any suitable means, such as a 1rnut 3|, threaded upon the outer end of the p The bracket 28 is illustrated as having a later- 30 ally extending lug 32 formed thereon to bear upon an adjusting plate 33 secured to the ring 24 and extending laterally beyond the edge of the ring. The adjusting plate 33 is provided with an armate slot 34 through which a bolt 35 may project to 35 clamp the lug 32 in any desiredposition relative to the plate 33. Thus the lug 32 may be moved to rotate the bracket 28 toplace the shaft or axis 21 of the roller at any desired angle to the axis of the pipe to be treated so that the axes of the rollers 4 26 may be disposed at the same angle relative to of the feed rollers 2 and 3. Thus as the pipe is fed longitudinally past the hopper l2, the frame 22 will remain stationary relative to the hopper. 45 It will be observed that the rings 23 and24, with their associated rollers 28. are spaced 9. considerable distance longitudinally relative to the pipe so that a. pair of spaced bearing supports is provided which will hold the attached nozzle sub- 50 stantially rigid in all directions transverse to the axis of the pipe.- Preferably thelength of the nozzle l4 and the distance of spacing from the rings 23 and 24 is relatively small, thus insuring that the nozzle l4 will be maintained concentric 55 with the pipe by reason of maintaining the rings 23 and 24 concentric with the pipe. Thus slight bends which may occur in the pipe will not cause material deviation of the nozzle from the desired concentric position.

From the construction thus far described, it will be observed that the nozzle I4 is substantially floated upon the pipe I so that any deviation of the pipe from a true straight line will cause a corresponding deviation of the nozzle l4, maintain- 5 ing the nozzle l4 and the pipe substantially con- I upon the pipe due to the weight of the nozzle and its mounting.

The operation of the device thus far described 7 p. all

is as follows: A length of pipe to be treated is fed into the machine by passing. the same through a A rotary motion may be'impartedfio the pipe I,.

as hereinbefore described, to cause it to traverse a substantially helical paththrough the nozzle l4. The mastic l3, which is supplied from thehopper l2 to the chute 9, will flow down the'chute to the periphery of the rotating pipe'and-as the pipe rotates, the mastic will adhere-to and be drawn around the periphery of the pipe I.

It is desirable that a large quantity of mastic be exposed to the surface of them'oving pipe at the throat of the chute It. This; will insure that sufficient mastic will be picked up and chilled to the surface of the pipe so that a continuous and uniformly dense coating will beobt'ained.

It will be observed, however, that the mastic is fed by the chute l9 into the bore l6 near the entrance end of the nozzle so that at this time a relatively thick mass of mastic is in contact with the periphery of the pipe. However, as the pipe continues to rotate, the coating of mastic which has been fed to and adheres to the pipe, is moved toward the'reduced diameter end [8 of the bore l6 which compresses or coarcts the mass of mastic into intimate contact with the pipe and insures that the mastic will be compacted into a solid mass upon the pipe. Preferably the outermost end 40 of the bore I6 is formed parallel to the peripheral area of the pipe so that as the mastic passes this point it will be ironed out smoothly to insurea smooth exterior to the coating which has been applied to the pipe. i

In order that there should be no gaps or voids in the coating, the longitudinal feedis preferably adjusted to a value less than the width of the mastic entrance chute. l9 so as to compensate for disturbances in the feed and insure that .every point of the pipe surfaces passes the full width'of the application opening at leastlonce. By shortening the pitch of the helical feedto one-half the chute width, each point on the pipe can be moved past the chute twice; This latter precaution is not normally required. v

The mastic will provide considerable resistance to relative rotation of the pipe-and the nozzle, which would create a tendency for the nozzle to rotate with the pipe, and to counteract this tendency, I provide a bar 4| upon the frame 22 extending laterally therefrom to engage a suitable stationary support 42. The contact between the bar 4| and the stationary support .42 is made through a roller 43, so that while the reaction forces necessary to counteract a tendency for the nozzle to rotate may be taken by the support 42, substantially little, or no, resistance is presented to lateral movement of the frame 22 to follow irregularities in the contour of the pipe. Another suitable method of taking thetorque reaction of bar 4| would be to secure a cable to the end of bar 4|, said cable to extend vertically upward a substantial distance, where the upper end is fastened to any suitable stationary support.

Also, the longitudinal drag'between the pipe and the nozzle may be suflicient to overcome frictional engagement between the rollers 26 and the pipe so as to cause the frame and thefnozzle to drift with the pipe.. To insure against such occurrence, I prefer to provide a plurality of reins or links 44 which may be connected to the frame 22, as at 45, and also secured as at 46 to any suitable stationary support 41, illustrated herein as forming an extension of the main support or bed 4.

The apparatus described may be employed for applying different types of plastic materials. Some of them harden quickly with loss of temperature and tend to stick to cold surfaces. In order to prevent them from sticking to the nozzle I4, I find it desirable to provide it with an insulating jacket 48'and an electrical heating coil 49, or with other heating means so that the nozzle may be maintained slightlyhotter than the plastic material being applied. This allows the nozzle to exert a very effective smoothing action.

The pipe being coated is ordinarily cold and the plastic material tends to adhere to it. This chilling-on action, together with the easy slipping of the tapered nozzle relative to the material, results in a powerful wire-drawing eflect in which the coating is forced to shear itself backwards relative to the pipe and is simultaneously placed under powerful compression, which compacts it and. causes it to adhere to the pipe with maximum tenacity. 1

It will be apparent that the apparatus as described functions primarily because of the selective adherence of the plastic material to the pipe rather than to the nozzle. With some types of material this effect. which can be promoted in of pressure to urge the mastic into the wedge-.'

shaped space between the advancing, pipe surface and the throat of themastic chute. I have found that worml-type pumps are particularly, adapted to the application of materials having considerable shearing strength and positive displacement types are most successful with more fluid mate rials.

' One form of worm type pump that may be employed in the machine isdisclosed in Fig. 10 in which the nozzle I4 is provided with a closed hopper 15 connected'to one end of a feed cylinder 16,

' the opposite end of which opens into a hopper TI to which the mastic is supplied. Mounted concentrically within the cylinder I6 is a screw or worm 18 which projects through the end of the hopper l1 and is rotatably supported in a suitable bearing member 80. The shaft 19 projects beyond the bearing member 8|) as shown and maybe ation the worm I8 is rotated in the direction indicated by thearrow and continuously forces mastic from the hopper 11 to the nozzle 15, at which point it is delivered to the pipe tangentially, as previously described.

The use of any form of pump is not always desirable or necessary because of the entraining and drawing-in effect of the converging passage formed by the advancing surface of the helically moving pipe and the. stationary bottom of the angularly and tangentially disposed mastic chute. I have "found, however, that the mastic may be tamped into this opening ,by means-of a mechanically operated reciprocating hammer or tamper which presses, or rather drives, the mastic into rotated from any desired power source. In oper- Referring particularly to Figures 8- and 9, I have illustrated a tamper or pump which maybe tight engagement with the pipe as the latter rotates past the entrance chute.

employed with my nozzle as hereinbefore .de-

scribed, the mastic pump comprising a plunger head 50 mounted upon the end of a lever II. The

lever Si is pivoted at 52 to an upright 83 mounted upon a suitable carriage 54 which operates upon a bed 55 secured to the supporting framement of the upright BI and the plunger head I] laterally with, respect to the pipe. A hinged link 58 may be employed to interconnect'the carriage N and the nozzle it so that lateral displacement of the nozzle, as bent portions of thepipe pass therethrough, will cause a similar lateral displacement of the carriage to insure thatthe tamping head or plunger head 50 will maintain a predetermined relation relative to the pipe which is'to be treated. The link 58 is illustrated'as being pinned or otherwise fastened to the nozzle it by means of a loose pin 59. Preferablythe link 58 is in the form of a lever pivoted at 60 to a bracket 6| formed rigidly upon the carriage 54.

An extension 62 of the carriage provides a suit able mounting for a source of motive power for the plunger head 50 and its operating lever 1 the mounting being illustrated as formed by an upright plate 63 secured to the extension 62 and having a clip or mounting bracket 64 thereon for receiving and gripping a motor 65. The motor is illustrated as being of the compressed air type, though it will be understood that any'suitable source of motive power may be employed.

The shaft 65 of the motor 65 is illustrated as being connected to a suitable reduction gearing 61 to drive a shaft 68 upon which is mounted a crank 69' connected through a suitable connect- 'ing rod or link III to one endli of the lever 5!.

Hence rotation of the shaft 68 will cause a reciprocating movement of the lever 5i, driving the plunger head 50 from the position spaced from the pipe, as shown in Figure 9, to a position within the entrance opening of the nozzle ll to compress the mastic, which isentering the entrance chute is of the nozzle, tightly against the-pipe.

It will be observed from-an inspection of Figure 9 that the plunger head 50 is formed with an arcuate configuration which conforms with the arcuate path of movement of the plunger 50 so that at the point of contact or application of pressure between the piungerhead 50 and the mastic, the

movement of the plunger head will be substantially tangential to the periphery of the pipe. Thus, while the mastic may be fed into the en,- trance chute I! by gravity, the operation'of the plunger head 50 will be such as to drive the mastic into the nozzle and around the pipe at a con-a siderable pressure.

Preferably the speed of operation of the plunger head 50 is that of about 150 to 200 strokes of the plunger head perminute, this arrangement insuring that the mastic will be squeezed into place around the entire periphery of the pipe,

while the pipe isrotating. Thespringl! and flywheel l3 serve to store energy during the up-- stroke of plunger head 50 and subsequently deliver energy during the power stroke, thus providing more even torque and steadier operation.

It will be observed that the relatively large en- .aoeomef e r trance opening to the nozzle it provided by'the,

- pass, means for. supporting open entrance chute IO, permits the insertion of the plunger head I. for compressing or forcing the incoming masticagainst the pipe. course after the mastic has been squeezed into engage ment with the pipe at the point of the largest space between the pipe and the nozzle, the helical movement of the pipe through the nozzle will cause'the reduced portions of the bore II to compress the mastic further about the pipe and to iron out the surface ofthe mastic.

In this manner fmastics which are relatively solid or still and dry in their composition may be readily applied to the pipe by employing the same nozzle which may be employed for coating pipes with a lighter and more plastic composition. It will also be observed that the tamping device in noway interferes with the normal operation of the mastic-applying nomle so that a single noszle is readily adapted for use with varying types of mastics which may be employed.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to be limited to any of the details of con struction shown or described herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

I claim: I 1. In a device for applying a coating of hot mastic to cold pipes,,a nozzle having a longitudinal'bore extending therethrough through'which a pipemay pass, a mastic entrance chute communicating withthe bore of saidnozzle tangen-' tial to the periphery'of said bore, and means for rotating said pipe and for longitudinally feeding the same relative to said nozzle. In a device for feeding mastic to a'pipe, a nozzle having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough throughwhich a pipe may pass, a

mastic chute communicating with said nozzle tangentiallyto the interiorof said bore, the bore of said, nozzle being tapered toward the pipe in the direction of movement of the pipe through the nozzle, the tummy of saidchute and the taper of said bore cooperating with the motion of said pipe to compress the mastic on said pipe.

in said nozzle communicating with'ithe bore at the larger end thereof andiin adirection tangential to the interior of said borerto pipes, a nozzle having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough through which a pipe may, said nozzle with the bore thereof concentric with the pipe, a mastic entrance openingcommunicating with said-bore along the line tangential to the internal periphcry of said bore, and power-actuated tamping means reciprocating in saidentranee opening in a direction. tangential to saidbore for compacting masticbetween said pipe and said bore.

5. In a device for applying a mastic coating to pipes, a nozzle having a longitudinal bore extending therethroughthrough which a pipe may pass, means for-supporting said nozzle with 4. In adevice. for applying a mastic coating the bore thereof concentric with the pipe, a mastic entrance opening communicating with said bore along the line tangential to the internal periphery of said bore, a tamper comprising a head mounted for movement substantially tangential to said bore and insertable through said entrance opening, and means supporting said tamper and mounting means for lateral movement with said nozzle to maintain the point of contact of said tamper with the mastic along said tangential line independent of lateral movement of said nozzle due to.irregularities in said 6. In a device for applying a mastic coating to pipes, a means extending at least partially around and spaced from said pipe means to guide mastic into direct contact with said pipe, and means communicating with the space between said first named means and said pipe for forcing said mastic into said space under pressure.

7. In a device for applying a mastic coating to pipes, a nozzle having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough through which a pipe may pass, means for supporting said nozzle with the bore thereof concentric with the pipe, a mastic entrance opening communicating with said bore along the line tangential to the internal periphery of said bore, and means for applying compressive force to said mastic in a direction tangential to said bore for compacting mastic between said pipe and said bore.

8. In a device for applying a mastic coating to pipe and the like, a nozzle having a longitudinal here through which a pipe may pass, means for supporting said nozzle with the bore thereof concentric with the pipe, a mastic inlet communicating with said bore along the line substantially tangential to the inner periphery of said bore, and a screw feed means discharging into said mastic inlet for compacting mastic between said pipe and said bore, the tangency of said inlet with the bore of said nozzle cooperating to increase the compaction of said mastic on said pipe. V

9.In a device for applying a mastic coating to pipe and the like, a nozzle having a longitudinal bore through which a pipe may be rotated, the outlet of said bore being of a greater diameter than the outside diameter of said pipe, a tangentially disposed mastic conduit communicating with said bore and extending longitudinally of said nozzle, and screw feed means discharging into said mastic inlet for compressing mastic into the converging space between the advancing surface of said pipe and the outer wall of said conduit, the tangency of said conduit with the bore of said nozzle cooperating with the rotation -pf said pipe to further compress, the mastic on said pipe.

WILLIAM R. POS'I'LEWAITE. 

